Law targets street drinking

Open-container ban allows for $500 fine and possible arrest

Residents thinking about drinking alcohol downtown and along parts
of Leopard Street need to keep the party inside or face a fine after
the City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance banning open
containers.

The ordinance took effect immediately and applies only to the Corpus
Christi central business district area. Businesses licensed to serve
alcoholic drinks, buildings not owned by the city, residences and
city-approved street events are exempt from the ban. Having an open
alcoholic container anywhere but at one of the exempted sites is
against the law.

Violators face as much as a $500 fine and possible arrest.

"This is for the individual who likes to sit at the curb and drink,"
Mayor Henry Garrett said. "It's directed at all walks of life that
drink at the bush, bus or bench."

Garrett said the ban isn't meant to target a specific group, such as
people who are homeless. Public drinking has been a problem for several
years independent of class, he said.

"Public consumption of alcohol in the downtown area leads to
assaults and disorder problems such as public urination, disruption of
property and aggressive panhandling," Corpus Christi Police Department
Chief Bryan Smith said. "This prevents the most common element of
disorder we see in the downtown area."

The new measure will be effective immediately. Before officers were
limited to making arrests for public intoxication and had no way to
curb problem drinkers out in public.

"It's a nuisance," said Cliff Harris, owner of Cliff's Uptown
Detail. "You get these guys in vacant lots that will drink all day and
night. ... I had to get in physical fights to protect myself and my
business."

Included in the ban are the city's downtown piers and T-heads. Some
fisherman out late Tuesday afternoon said it's unfortunate that
everybody is affected by a few people who ruin activities usually
associated with drinking such as fishing.

"We usually come out, have a couple of beers and throw the rod
around," said Corpus Christi resident Victor Perez, who was out fishing
on the pier across from the federal courthouse. "You understand why
they do it but it's frustrating - especially since I'm not the one
causing a problem."

Perez said he would continue to fish downtown but drink before he
goes out.

It already was illegal to be intoxicated on public property, and
restaurants and bars aren't allowed to let their patrons carry open
drinks off the premises. Under previous rules, open containers were
allowed on public property between 7 a.m. and 2:15 a.m. Monday through
Saturday and after noon on Sunday.

Drinking in the city's parks also was banned previously.

The ban doesn't mean that drinking is prohibited during the Buc Days
Festival or Bayfest celebrations. Those special events - as well as
smaller ones such as the downtown Art Walks - can be exempt from the
law with a special permit. Tailgating at Whataburger Field still will
be allowed, and boat owners still can drink on their boats, even if
docked downtown.

Contact David Kassabian at 886-3778 or HYPERLINK
mailto:kassabiand@caller.com kassabiand@caller.com